Origin: in Gainesville, Fla., by R.H. Sharpe, J.S. Shoemaker, and P.J. Westgate, Florida Agr. Expt. Sta. Introd. in 1964; distributed by Florida Foundation Seed Producers, P.O. Box 14006, University Station, Gainesville, FL 32603. F2 (Regal Ness × Rubus trivialis) open-pollinated; cross made in 1953 by Sharpe; sibling of Flordagrand; tested as Fla. 24. Tree: vigorous; canes trailing; semi-evergreen to evergreen; yield of 8 pints or more per plant in alternate rows of Oklawaha and Flordagrand, both an effective pollinator for each other; largely self-fruitful. Named for a river in Florida. Fruit: about 1 1/8 inch × 1/2 inch in diam.; somewhat blunt; skin black, somewhat glossy, turning reddish if exposed to sun after picking; juice deep red; aroma delicate and delightful; drupelets slightly smaller than Flordagrand; ripening starts about 2-5 days before Flordagrand, which it resembles; harvest dates vary: 28 Apr.-16 May in late, cool season, 9-24 Apr. in early, warm, dry season.
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